Letter: Many red flags on Esplanade House

Community Action Agency CEO Tom Tenorio claimed in recent media coverage that he turned down $100,000 offered by Esplanade House founders “because of the obligations that came with it.” The only “obligation” was to write a simple one-page description of how funds would be spent, to ensure that it went to revitalize the Esplanade House program, not “administrative and travel expenses.” Evidently, this was too much to ask.

Do you see the red flag? Especially since CAA is used to going into painstaking detail about how funds are spent when applying for government grants.

The real reason Tenorio didn’t accept it and wanted to “cut ties” with the founders is simple: We ask too many questions and demand that donations are used for their specified intent.

We know how the program is supposed to be staffed for success because we designed it. Sadly, other than our oversight, there isn’t any. So naturally if Tenorio can get rid of us and our scrutiny, gaming the system would be so much easier, wouldn’t it?

You may wonder, “Where are the CAA board of directors?” How were they so easily convinced to turn down a $100,000 lifeline, with so little experience about the program and the problems? Worse, how were they convinced to stonewall our requests for open meetings to hear testimony from ex-board members and employees? The answer? A very smooth-talking Tom Tenorio.

CAA’s board has been out of compliance with the state for over five years by design, not by chance.